How To Clean Your Android Phone

Do you have any idea how gross your phone is? Back in 2011, it was discovered that 92 percent of phones have residual bacteria living on them. It sounds frightening, but it’s reality. And frankly, I’m embarrassed to admit that my phone is usually covered in nasty finger grease.

So, I set out find a way to keep my phone clean and pristine—or as much as I could, anyway. Here’s a few tips on how to clean your smartphone when it starts looking a little grimy.

Make a habit of wiping it down

This is such an obvious thing to do but it bears repeating: you should wipe down your phone as often as you can. I love the individually wrapped pre-moistened anti-bacterial wipes that I can carry around in my purse, though any lens wiping solution will do.

If you don’t like to carry a bunch of stuff on you, you can always make your own screen cleaning solution from scratch. All you need is a small misting spray bottle, 8 ounces rubbing alcohol, and 8 ounces of distilled water.

Now, you want to make sure that it’s distilled water. Unpurified waters, like tap water, can leave behind a residue on your display.

Alternatively—and, more organically—a trick I learned from my Orthodontist is to use a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and distilled water. I use it to clean my retainers, and I dab a bit on a microfiber cloth to clean around the edges of my phone.

2. Bust out the Q-tips and toothpicks

I used to think this was really weird, but it makes sense: my Dad taught me to take a toothpick and run through the cracks and crevices on your smartphone. It’s disgusting what you’ll unearth, but it gets the job done. When you’re finished, you’ll want to run over those spots with a dry cotton swab, or even dip that into rubbing alcohol to sanitize in between the lines.

3. Consider investing in a UV sanitizer

If you’re really a germaphobe and you want to go the extra mile, you can invest in an device that kills off germs with a UV light like the easycare® Portable Multiuse UV Sterilizer (http://www.amazon.com/Easycare%C2%AE-Sterilizer-Smartphone-Sanitizer-House/dp/B00XJGQRQ8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_sims?ie=UTF8).

You place your phone inside this little contraption and it kills the germs with light. Neat!

4. Don’t forget your headphones

If you’re planning on buying a UV blaster like the one I just mentioned, you can simply drop your earbuds in and take care of business that way. If not, you can wipe each bud down with a soft cloth dampened with a bit of dish soap and water.

Headphones are a bit trickier, but you’ll want to use the same mild dish soap and water solution to wipe them down in their entirety. If the headphones include silicon covers, you can remove those and clean them separately with a toothbrush. Anything more serious, and you’ll want to dip a cotton swap in rubbing alcohol and give it a thorough once-over. Then allow the headphones to dry completely before using them again.